Butter & Egg Days 2026 Kicks Off with Good Egg Ceremony

I was delighted to attend the April 11th Butter & Egg Days opening ceremony at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, where Petaluma History Room Librarian Connie Williams was honored as the 2026 Good Egg — a well-deserved recognition of her years of dedication to preserving and promoting local history and literacy.

The Good Egg Award, along with Butter & Egg Days Parade and Petaluma History Week, was established in 1983 by Linda Buffo and Alice Forsyth, both members of the Petaluma Downtown Merchants Association (later renamed the Petaluma Downtown Association). Their inspiration came from Petaluma’s earlier Egg Day celebrations, which ran from 1918 to 1927 and featured parades, the crowning of an annual Egg Day Queen, rodeos, barbeques, dances, window display contests, and more.

Rather than reviving the Egg Day Queen competition, Linda and Alice conceived of the Good Egg Award – an award that recognizes individuals whose sustained efforts have significantly promoted the preservation of Petaluma’s history and inspired others to become advocates and ambassadors for the city’s heritage in their everyday lives.

The first Good Egg Award was presented on Saturday, April 30, 1983, at the start of the parade, to Adair Heig, author of History of Petaluma: A River Town. Mayor Fred Mattei declared April 24–30 as the inaugural Petaluma History Week, which opened with a downtown walking tour led by Heritage Homes of Petaluma volunteers. That week, local business owners were encouraged to create unique historical window displays — a practice that continues to this day.

The 1983 parade’s grand marshals were Ed Fratini and Ed Mannion, who donated many of their prized historical artifacts for those displays.

Much of the spirit of that first celebration lives on. At the April 11^th gathering at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, Mayor Kevin McDonnell read three separate proclamations marking the official start of History Week and honoring both Good Egg, Connie Williams, and the Grand Marshal, Heidi Kuhn. The parade itself has grown remarkably — from more than 90 clubs, bands, and organizations in 1983 to approximately 3,000 participants in 2026.

Local merchants such as Chick City Goods and The Hunter and the Bird at 117 Kentucky Street are carrying on the tradition of decorating their storefronts with themes of history, poultry, and dairy, using items loaned by Linda Buffo, Alice Forsyth, City Council Member and 1995 Good Egg, Karen Nau, Rayne Wolfe, Peg Smith and yours truly.

While no tours are scheduled during this year’s History Week, beginning May 1st, Petalumans of Yesteryear volunteer docents will lead downtown walking tours every Saturday morning, departing from the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum (20 Fourth Street) at 10:30 a.m. On May 3rd, the group will also debut its first-ever View Master Tour. For details and to register, visit the Petalumans of Yesteryear Eventbrite page.

The Butter and Egg Days parade theme this year is America’s Birthday- Petaluma Style, and will take place on April 18^th at noon. For more information about the parade and its associated activities, contact the Petaluma Downtown Association.